It's far too soon for Cup talk, but Hawks look good

With Hossa's playing leading way, feel free to feel giddy about this season

January 25, 2013|Dan McNeil

I'm going to leave it to Joel Quenneville and his players to remind you "it's still early" in this NHL season.

It's true the Blackhawks aren't going to win the Stanley Cup this month. And they didn't get any closer to a title with their 3-2 overtime victory Thursday night over the Stars in Dallas.

But as the Hawks took their fourth game in as many tries, the most telling factor is the return — with a vengeance — of Marian Hossa.

The game-winning laser he blasted just inside the post to the left side of Stars' goaltender Kari Lehtonen, who kept his team from getting run out of the building, was the perfect punctuation to an often-times frustrating evening for the Hawks.

To hell with pacing yourself. If you're a hockey fan, you spent more than three months dreading the prospect of a puckless season. I say get silly now and let your imagination run wild — before it becomes fashionable.

The Blackhawks have come out of the gate much more impressively than expected.

Nothing is more encouraging than the manner in which Hossa has opened the season. Thursday's game winner, set up by a sweet, back-handed touch pass from Patrick Kane, was Hossa's fifth goal of the season.

It appears the concussion symptoms that vexed Hossa for a couple of months after being drilled in last spring's playoff loss to the Coyotes, are totally gone.

Hossa has had the most impact of the Hawks — by a long shot. And it isn't just the goals the veteran winger has scored.

His relentless effort with the stick, keeping the puck alive in the attack zone or taking it away from an opponent when short-handed, has set the tone for a team that struggled to find an identity last season.

The Hawks look sharper and more confident taking the play across the opponent's blue line. They have demonstrated patience. They have forechecked well. They have killed penalties.

Jonathan Toews, who also was dealing with concussion issues last spring, looks rejuvenated. Toews' second goal of the season tied the game at 2-2 late in the third period.

Kane has at least one point in all four games after assisting on Patrick Sharp's power play goal at 15:57 of the second period, which cut the Dallas lead to 2-1.

It's only four of 48 games, but all of those eight points have come against elite competition.

If the Hawks are going deep into the playoffs, goaltender Corey Crawford has to be decidedly more consistent than he was a year ago. Crawford needs to author performances like Lehtonen's Thursday night.

He did Tuesday in the Hawks home opener, a 3-2 victory over the Blues. Crawford stopped 32 shots, many of them quality chances in the third period.

I'm not sold on Crawford but, in fairness, last season was the first as his team's No. 1.

There are 44 games left on the schedule and it is a guarantee there will be rough stretches. There will be injuries. Bad bounces.

Now, however, is a great time to embrace what's right in front of us — an NHL season. One in which the Blackhawks quickly have made an impression.

Special contributor Dan McNeil hosts "The McNeil and Spiegel Show" weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WSCR-AM 670.